FOREIGN AFFAIRS TREATS FEMALE OFFICERS LIKE TRASH - DIPLOMAT

MBABANE – Swazi diplomats on secondment to foreign missions are expected to inform government if they intend to marry or get pregnant.

Unreported pregnancies and marriages with foreigners, according to government, are costly to the taxpayer. This is due to the fact that the welfare of the spouses and children is the responsibility of the taxpayer.

This procedure applies to both male and female officers. Even married couples, both Swazis, have to inform government that they have conceived a baby so that the taxpayer could budget for the maintenance of the baby once born.
Giving birth willy-nilly is discouraged, as it may deplete the country’s resources since government is legally obligated to take care of the diplomat’s family. However, some diplomats are disgruntled that they have to ‘seek permission’ from government to marry or fall pregnant.

In their list of grievances emailed to the Times SUNDAY, the diplomats were quoted as saying: “Female officers are treated like trash by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They are not respected at all by the authorities in that ministry. They are not allowed to marry people of their choice. If they want to get married, they have to ask the PS (Principal Secretary) for permission. Can you imagine that - asking the PS who is not even related to you?”

They claimed government gave them E650 (US$50) to pay for their children’s school fees, an allegation, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation flatly denied.

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